The Onafhankelijke Post en Telecommunicatie Autoriteit (OPTA, "Independent Post and Telecommunications Authority") is an independent Dutch government agency charged with enforcing Dutch law on telecommunication, post and cable TV services. The agency has its head office in The Hague.
The reason behind its creation in 1997 was to ensure competitiveness on the newly open Dutch market for telephony and other telecom activities. Before, KPN had a monopoly on the Dutch market, but after deregulation, other companies entered this market as well. To prevent KPN from pushing the others out of the market because of its might and sheer size, OPTA was created.
The Dutch cable TV network is one of the densest in the world, with over 95 percent of Dutch households having access to cable TV. OPTA also regulates this market, and is a mediator in case companies have differences of opinion with each other on business matters. OPTA decisions can be appealed.
OPTA's function and legal position is similar to the American Federal Communications Commission.
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